I'm seeing more and more webmasters with this problem, I think perhaps people who have panic attacks are more likely to stay indoors and on a computer than those who don't.

Some of you knew my husband Buzzard who just died the end of June. He suffered from panic attacks horribly, and I truly believe it shortened his life. He was afraid to go out of the house, and when he was well, it wasn't as much of a problem as it was when he got sick. Going to the doctors office was a huge deal and it was very difficult for him to get himself there. So he put it off as much as possible. Near the end though, I convinced him to go to a psychaitrist and see if something could be done for these attacks, because it was affecting his health. The doctor prescribed Effexor and what a change! After taking it for about 2 weeks, he started wanting to go out, we went everywhere together, he was in a wheelchair by this time, so we'd pack it up in the car and bring along all the things that made him comfortable and go out to aquariums, and stereo shops ( two of his favorite things.) We went out more together during those last five months than we'd ever done the 7 years we were together.

Now, effexor may not be for everyone, but it sure helped him, he was like a new person.. no more being afraid to do things like take medicine, or thunderstorms, or falling asleep, or going outside... I feel sorry for people that suffer with this, it's a terrible thing, it really affects all parts of your life.

panic attacks are just another method for those bitches to draw
more attention to em.. ignore it and itll go away.

I'm sorry about your husband passing :(

That's another thing about panic attacks... sometimes during one, you know you are tired, yet you are afraid to fall asleep because you think you will die. It's a horrible feeling... but thankfully people are finding more ways to cope with them and in many cases, avoid them all together :thumbsup

I tend to have panic attacks when I am alone... rarely when I am around other people.

it's hard to ignore something that's right there in your face.. kind of like your post

EXACTLY my point! There you have it!

No people = no attention = panic attack!

I had a panic attack once, it sucked donkey balls. :(

you are confused darling.. when women have PMS.. there is no panic attack involved... maybe a knife attack on some stupid man being a dumbass..:1orglaugh

I am no woman but I am almost an expert on panick disorders. 6 years ago I started getting them. 6 months later I was confined to my house only to leave to go to the hospital because I thought I was having a heart attack. I had no idea what was going on. I could not breathe, was scared to fall asleep and my heart was always pounding. I was prescribed Ativan to calm my nerves. Only then did I realize what was really happening. All the drugs I did as a youngster made me paranoid and anxious. The chemical imbalance in my brain which caused the anxiety condition heightened that. It wasen't until I was on medication for some time and quit smoking weed for good that I was able to control it. Now 6 years later I don't get panick attacks. I still get anxious sometimes when I am not keeping myself busy or if I am overtired but nowheres near what I WAS going through years ago.

My ex, currently roomate has panick attacks. Her's are hardcore because she is emotional. ALmost gotta babysit her when it happens to her. It is directly related to her stress

I think the thing about my panic disorder that is most difficult is how hard it is for people who don't have them to understand them.

My fiance is great, but he can't wrap his head around how irrational they are. It doesn't matter if there isn't a threat where we are, if the panic comes, I have to deal with it. Sometimes, if it's really bad, we have to adjust some plans we have made and that's tough on both of us.

I hate it. I have some other health problems that suck, but if I could choose to remove one, it would be the panic. It is the worst by far.

re: webmasters with panic. I'm not sure which came first, the panic or the webmastering.. chicken.. egg. :) For me, the anxiety came first. I had been having really bad problems for a couple years when I got in on a study at Stanford and got effexor. Things improved enough on the meds that I was able to enroll in college via distance learning. I still wasn't able to sit in a classroom 5 days a week, but it was progress.

After a few months I started to realize that I may never go back to a cubicle in a "regular job". I wasn't sure what I was going to do with my life. Then I took a web design class elective for fun over summer break. As a joke, I put up a porn site on Adult Check and then was shocked when money started to arrive in the mail. Voila! A career was born. One where I can take time for myself when it's bad, or I can be very productive when it's good.

50

:Graucho

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

Damn!!! I wouldn't want to be a dumbass around you. :1orglaugh

i'm a man
i do have panic attacks, ansiety attacks, and all the rest of the list

it sucks

:uhoh

Thank God, I thought it was rare for men. Paxil helps :thumbsup

I also believe women are more likely to seek medical attention.

So much good information to take in here.
One question on this topic though...

A friend of mine said he had generalized anxiety disorder and had been given anti-depressants for it. I said, "Oh, you have panic attacks", and he said not really, but that he was "un-comfortable" in group situations or something he called "social anxiety".

Yet, when I was reading about BuSpar, it talked about panic attacks under the category of "Generalized anxiety disorders."

I guess what I'm asking is if there are different meds given out depending on what TYPE of anxiety you have?

That's my understanding. From ativan or xanax for temporary relief in occasional situations (flying, social gatherings, etc. Just something to take the edge off) to a daily regiment. I keep hearing that there are all kinds of different meds that can work, but each doctor seems to have their own preference.

It's my understanding that under "anxiety disorders" there are lots of sub-headings from social anxiety disorder to panic disorder to generalized anxieity disorder. I'm not familiar with anyone who has social anxiety disorder that hasn't had a panic attack at some time, but I suppose it's possible.

Yes.

Panic attacks can be a general symptom in many different disorders and ailments. Social anxiety is a whole category in itself. Panic attacks can happen under any circumstance, not just when in public or social settings. As I posted before, most of my panic attacks occur when I am alone.

About the closest I ever came to a panic attack has been after smoking weed and contemplating shit that just shouldn't be thought about... Awareness is a bitch... but usually, as in dreams, this is stuff that needed to be directly addressed anyway.

I believe that these hard questions are always nagging at your subconscious mind, whether or not you choose to directly address these issues or not... basic human questions -- what's keeping me alive, how am I thinking, what is evil, am I safe from XYZ... so I think the best thing to do is read as much as you can so you can and look for answers and eventually come to conclusion(s) that FEEL right so you can have peace of mind... I don't think the alternative is very pleasing.

panic attacks arn't common in women unless they are around 'the fly' - then it's upwards of 95% of the female population that experiences this phenonomon in one form or another.

It's easily cured by removing the stimulas - as once 'the fly' leaves the room most women report a complete recovery and all symptoms disappear.

Anyway, sorry for picking on the girls... I don't talk to many guys about these things I guess.

I'm always buzzin' :thumbsup